How do you install a large pond liner?

[ZEROPILOT]

How do you install a very large and very heavy liner into an odd shaped dug area (hole) without the sides crumbling and falling down?
I have a 20x15 foot firestone, rubber "lifetime" liner and underlayment that weighs 100 pounds.
The soil is sand with rocks. Very loose and it wants to fall in every chance it gets.
How do I get the liner in without the walls of the hole crumbling?
Wet the soil?
Dust a few layers of cement?
It'll just be my brother and myself. Two guys with bad backs. Dragging it is not an option.

 

[Meyer Jordan]

I don't believe that a liner can be installed without some level of 'dragging' at some point in the installation.
You need to find where the center fold is n the liner and place this bisecting the pond. This way you unfold from the center outwards which is the easiest method.
We have sandy soil here in the Fl. Panhandle with some clay mixed in. In installations where the soil was exceptionally dry and low structural integrity (prone to collapse). We lightly misted the soil, installed the underlayment, wet the underlayment and soil once more then began pulling liner.
I would seriously recommend getting some assistance. This is no job for anyone with a bad back unless they crave being around doctors and hospitals.

 

[MitchM]

2 pieces of equipment I can recommend that helps with personal safety are gloves with rubber palms and a back brace from Home Depot.
The gloves take strain off your arms and upper back because you aren't gripping so hard and the back brace gives your back much needed support.
https://www.homedepot.ca/en/home/p.gorilla-grip---x-large.1000708561.html
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-Medium-Back-Support-in-Black-HD668607/202311445

I started with my liner on one edge and pulled it into the hole with the underlayment in place. Wetting down the surface soil sounds like a good idea for loose soil.
My liner was 50 x 50. It took me about 3 hours by myself.
Don't do it on a hot day, lol.

 

[DutchMuch]

@MitchM do I see birch trees?
looks like im moving to canadia.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

I don't believe that a liner can be installed without some level of 'dragging' at some point in the installation.
You need to find where the center fold is n the liner and place this bisecting the pond. This way you unfold from the center outwards which is the easiest method.
We have sandy soil here in the Fl. Panhandle with some clay mixed in. In installations where the soil was exceptionally dry and low structural integrity (prone to collapse). We lightly misted the soil, installed the underlayment, wet the underlayment and soil once more then began pulling liner.
I would seriously recommend getting some assistance. This is no job for anyone with a bad back unless they crave being around doctors and hospitals.

I will wet the soil.
Also the liner once installed.
Thanks

 

[MitchM]

@MitchM do I see birch trees?
looks like im moving to canadia.

No, those are poplar trees.
-and keep in mind about moving here, we only have 2 seasons - winter and "not winter"

 

[Lisak1]

we only have 2 seasons - winter and "not winter"

We say the same thing here in the Chicago area @MitchM - except it's "winter" or "road construction"!

 

[DutchMuch]

No, those are poplar trees.
-and keep in mind about moving here, we only have 2 seasons - winter and "not winter"

hmm...
no birch tree's
no me.
lol

 

[Jimmy Gibson]

Mine was 25' x 25' ..... It was a struggle with four people, but of course two of us were old

 

[ZEROPILOT]

DAUNTING!!!
A 20x15 sure looks huge unfolded.
My brother and I opened it up in the yard and then rolled it up like a scroll...Carried it into the pond with the underlayment already in and then simply unrolled it.
Maybe I should have left the word "simply" out.
It's now about 75 % full and already 950 gallons according to my water meter

 

[ZEROPILOT]

At 75 % full, I can now backfill the edges where I need to and then fill it all the way up and trim the liner and start the edge stone work.
However. Non of that will happen today.

 

[Gemma]

We say the same thing here in the Chicago area @MitchM - except it's "winter" or "road construction"!

That's funny and true here too!

 

[Gemma]

@MitchM do I see birch trees?
looks like im moving to canadia.

A 16yr old that knows the name of a tree!... something you don't see often anymore!

 

[DutchMuch]

A 16yr old that knows the name of a tree!... something you don't see often anymore!

Farmer and Nature Man at heart.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

There is some liner visible on the edges after I cemented the stones in place.
I'm hoping this will be OK since it IS the "lifetime, permanent" Firestone liner and underlayment.
It also won't get much full sun.